What kind of plant is the crested euphorbia? Let us introduce you to this woody plant

Morphological characteristics of the crested euphorbia

The crested euphorbia likes plenty of sunlight, but is also tolerant of semi-shade, and will not die of dryness if slightly dry, making it suitable for household potted viewing. Many people think this is a type of cactus plant belonging to a primitive group with leaves, but this is incorrect; this flower is a cristate (or monstrose) variety of the succulent Euphorbia nerifolia of the Euphorbiaceae family, which can easily be judged from the fact that the base of its spines lacks the areoles unique to cactus plants and that the plant has white latex.

It has emerald-green and beautiful leaves, both stems and leaves are succulent, and the plant form is elegant, closely resembling the qilin from ancient Chinese legend, hence the name crested euphorbia. The succulent modified stem is an irregular palmate fan shape, green when young, yellow-brown and woody when old, and the top and edges of the modified stem are densely covered with succulent leaves.

Growth habits of the crested euphorbia

The crested euphorbia likes warmth, requires plenty of sunlight, and is suited to well-drained sandy loam. It is drought-tolerant, not cold-tolerant, but also tolerant of semi-shade, making it suitable for household potted viewing. In warm regions it can be planted in courtyards, while in cold regions it is mostly grown in pots for viewing.

Notes on cultivating the crested euphorbia

The white latex in the stem of the crested euphorbia is toxic, and especially must not get into the eyes, so when growing it at home care should be taken to prevent children from accidentally getting the stem sap into their mouths or eyes.

Propagation methods of the crested euphorbia

The crested euphorbia is generally propagated by cuttings, and cuttings can be taken anytime from April to October. For the cutting time, a sunny morning is best. Cut a piece of robust, strong modified stem, let it dry in a cool place for 3~4 days, and after the wound has dried and shrunk, insert it about 2~3 cm into clean river sand; do not water at first, then spray water after 2 days, keeping the potting soil moist; roots will form in about one month, after which it can be transplanted into a pot. When cutting the modified stem piece, white latex tends to flow out; let it drain completely or rinse the latex away with water, so as to avoid the sap drying into a gummy substance that seals the cut and affects rooting. After cutting, place it in a shaded place for care. Keep it moist, but the cut must not be waterlogged, as waterlogging will rot the cutting.

Pest and disease control of the crested euphorbia

The crested euphorbia has few pests and diseases, but if kept long-term in a greenhouse or in a poorly ventilated location, it is prone to scale insect damage. In winter and spring, the leaves can be sprayed and washed with clean water once every 10 days to remove dust. In addition, it is very sensitive to coal gas, and after exposure it easily sheds leaves (it can be used indoors to detect gas leaks).